Ari Lennox Parts Ways With Dreamville Records After Nearly a Decade
Ari Lennox and Dreamville Records are officially going their separate ways.
TMZ reported that the DC-native has parted ways with the label after nearly a decade, though she will remain signed to Interscope Records.
Last month, the “Sheabutter Baby” hitmaker released her latest single, “Soft Girl Era,” solely through Interscope—her first drop since the reported split.
According to the outlet, the departure was amicable. Lennox even hit the stage at this year’s Dreamville Festival, where she publicly showed love to label boss, J. Cole. “Thank you for making my dreams a reality,” she told the label founder during her performance, per HotNewHipHop. Still, the news follows a stretch of tension between the singer and her label home.
Back in October, Lennox openly expressed frustration with both Dreamville and Interscope, calling out what she felt was a lack of care and support. “I want out of my contract,” she wrote on Instagram at the time.
Among her grievances was the release of a music video she says she never approved.
“I told management I didn’t want this recent video to come out because I’m tired of people treating me like I’m the face of mental health,” Lennox shared. “I’m tired of people treating me like they’re so sorry for me. I’m a human being who has just been very transparent about my life.”
She continued, “I just wish I had a label that cared, that would want to protect me. I wish I had a label that wouldn’t have me out here trying to explain that I need advertisement. I just wanna be released, it’s that simple.”
Lennox initially signed with Dreamville in 2015, becoming the label’s first female artist. She dropped her debut EP “Pho” the following year, followed by her critically acclaimed 2019 debut album “Shea Butter Baby.”
